Monotonous tales and incoherent thoughts of a seething brain…Read at your peril

Somali Parents…

Yesterday we had the Eid-ul-fitr celebration at our school. Not exactly a celebration but more a recognition of different faiths and cultures, which the school is doing its best to accomplish. Half of the school is of Ethnic minority origin and on top of the list is Somalis. So when the school holds a special event as this, in the honour of its diverse communities and religions, the Somalis would surely be expected to take part in it or at least attend and support their children.
The entire children of Keystage 1 and Keystage 2 had to rehearse for weeks and weeks in order to perform a Nasheed for their Muslim guests. I watched them rehearse a few times and helped them with it. So on the final day, yesterday, when they decided to perform it, to their amazement, and mine, there were no parents. Out of nearly 50 parents, two turned up, despite all having been informed many days in advance.
I am sure most of the Somali children themselves were gutted that their parents haven’t turned for such a significant event. If I was one of those children, I certainly would have loved it if my parents sat there in the benches watching while I performed.

All of the sun and moon shining in the sky
But their light doesn’t shine bright enough
And my heart is filled with light from your love

With your light Divine, the world is awake
And the Nightingale is singing again
See the flowers have started blossoming
And the world is filled with life and joy
I am not a prophet only a child
Nor an angel nor a prophet of God
So they give their thanks to God because
He has made them one of His followers

Tsk……..sounds like my mother. I have to turn up to all my lil sisters school activities and if I can’t I push for mom to go. its not because she doesn’t care it because she has other things pressing to do :( Life in the West suks and adjustments aren’t made in our culture. Back home I remember always seeing my father at all my school activities i.e sports, achievement awards, fundraisers, girlguides. He was an attentive parents and that probably why I took offense when he decided he didn’t want to be part of this family anymore. These kids were going to get a poor substitute for a parent (me). I feel for them (the children at your school).

Firefly, I think it strengthens the relationship between the child and the parent as well if they turn up. I remember a very long time ago when my Aunt (May Allah bless her) came to an Islamic event we had at school where i was supposed to be an Imaam reading a sermon. I still remember very vividly where she sat and how her presence had an impact on my life. That has never left me ever since.

SD, surely not all of them had pressing things to do. I know a few of them attend colleges and all, but it is well known throughout the school that Somali parents’ involvement in school amtter is very little or non-existent!

By naming this entry “Somali Parents” and saying what you did, it sort of leads me to believe that you’re assuming all Somali parents are like that. As a Somali who grew up in a Somali community, I think I know how Somali parents are like, and they would have gone there without a doubt. The trouble may have been that they don’t know english and that the kids didn’t tell them about it. Most of the Somali kids probably don’t care about their parents coming or not.

The way Somalis are raised, we learn not to cherish things like that too dearly. We understand that our parents love us and by not coming here, by either us not telling them or by them not understanding the letter or by their own will not come (which I doubt for most), we still understand that they love us. So don’t assume that Somali parents are all like that – people who don’t care enough for their own child to not come. Yes, I know you didn’t say that but it seemed like that was what you were assuming.

And some advice – be careful of what you say or assume – you might offend someone who has more knowledge on the topic than you.